Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Punta del Este?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Punta del Este or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Punta del Este or Kingston, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Punta del Este or Kingston?
Punta del Este
Punta del Este with its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels, ardent night scene and glitzy restaurants is a chic beach resort town in Uruguay. Many tourists come from Brazil and Argentina, on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, to get some nice sun and lay on the beach for a weekend getaway. Punta del Este is more expensive than other areas in Uruguay and has been called the Monaco of South America. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very crowded in the summer.
Kingston
Kingston is Jamaica's capital city with a population of about 579,000. For being located on an island, Kingston is a very large city with several different zip codes. Not only is Kingston the cultural capital of the country, but also the commercial one as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, and The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta del Este $98Kingston $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta del Este is $98, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $109. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Punta del Este and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta del Este $55Kingston $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta del Este $110Kingston $128
Compare Hotels in Punta del Este and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Punta del Este or Kingston? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Punta del Este Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta del Este $22Kingston $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta del Este
Also for Punta del Este, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Montevideo Hotels to Carrasco Airport MVD Departure Transfer: $49
- Montevideo hotels to Carrasco International Airport (MVD) - Departure Transfer: $49
- Private Transfer - Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $85
- Private Transfer from Montevideo City to Montevideo Cruise Port: $55
- Private Transfer from Montevideo city to Montevideo Cruise Port: $30
- Private Transfer from Montevideo hotels to Punta Del Este Port: $72
- Private Transfer from Montevideo to Punta Del Este Cruise Port: $85
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Cruise Port to Montevideo: $85
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Montevideo hotels: $72
- Private Transfer to Punta del Este Airport: $60
- Punta del Este Airport Private Transfer: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Kingston: $388
- Tropical Off-Road ATV Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $280
- Port Antonio Hotel Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $235
- Private Airport Transfer Sangster Airport to Kingston: $229
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Riu Ocho Rios: $200
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer to Accommodation in Montego Bay: $170
- Kingston : Private Airport Transfer to Montego Bay: $169
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer : $161
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
- 10. Norman Manley Intl Kingston Airport Fun-Transfer to/from Montego Bay Resorts: $125
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta del Este or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Punta del Este change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayPunta del Este $31Kingston $27
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta del Este $11Kingston $13
Tours and Activities in Punta del Este
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.
- La Vista 360 ticket de admisión: $11
- Skip the Line: Casapueblo Museum Admission Ticket in Punta del Este: $15
- Guided Tour of the Winery Viña Edén: $18
- Punta del Este Classic City Tour with Sunset in Casapueblo: $30
- Guided Tour of Vineyards: $33
- Half-Day City Tour: $47
- Discovering Half-Day City Tour: $47
- Punta del Este City Tour for Cruisers: $50
- Punta del Este, City Tour: $50
- Bike Tour Peninsula - Punta del Este: $65
- Private - Punta del Este City Tour for Cruisers: $120
- Punta del Este Shore Excursion: Private Sightseeing Tour of Punta del Este: $127
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dunn's River Falls Party Cruise, Blue Hole with Snorkeling, free beverages: $174
- 4x4 Jeep Safari & Blue Hole Adventure from Ocho Rios: $158
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Tasting from Ocho Rios: $232
- Authentic Jamaican Food Experience: $140
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Runaway Bay: $142
- Blue Mountains Coffee Private Tour from Kingston: $180
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $83
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Runaway Bay: $258
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $370
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $320
- Bob Marley Museum and Kingston Sightseeing from Port Royal Cruise Port: $205
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta del Este $7.70Kingston $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta del Este
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Punta del Este:
- Wine Tasting: $42
- Half Day Private Canelones Wine Tour from Montevideo : $158
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Ocho Rios Pub Crawl and Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios: $185
When comparing the travel costs between Punta del Este and Kingston, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Punta del Este is in South America and Kingston is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta del Este Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta del Este or Kingston?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Punta del Este and Kingston, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Punta del Este or Kingston?
Punta del Este has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kingston experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Punta del Este or Kingston in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Punta del Este as well as Kingston. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Punta del Este is cooler than Kingston in the summer. The daily temperature in Punta del Este averages around 23°C (73°F) in January, and Kingston fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Punta del Este this time of the year. In the summer, Punta del Este often gets more sunshine than Kingstonin July. Punta del Este gets 296 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun.
Punta del Este usually gets more rain in January than Kingstonin July. Punta del Este gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyPunta del Este 23°C (73°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Punta del Este or Kingston in the Autumn?
Both Kingston and Punta del Este are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Punta del Este is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Punta del Este in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Kingston averages at about 28°C (82°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. Punta del Este usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during autumn. Punta del Este gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kingston. In April, Punta del Este usually receives less rain than Kingstonin October. Punta del Este gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberPunta del Este 17°C (63°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Punta del Este or Kingston in the Winter?
Both Kingston and Punta del Este during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In July, Punta del Este is generally much colder than Kingstonin January. Daily temperatures in Punta del Este average around 10°C (50°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Punta del Este often gets less sunshine than Kingstonin January. Punta del Este gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun.
Punta del Este usually gets more rain in July than Kingstonin January. Punta del Este gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPunta del Este 10°C (50°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Punta del Este or Kingston in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Punta del Este and Kingston. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Punta del Este is much colder than Kingston in the spring. The daily temperature in Punta del Este averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (80°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In Punta del Este, it's very sunny this time of the year. Punta del Este usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston during spring. Punta del Este gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Punta del Este usually receives more rain than Kingstonin April. Punta del Este gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilPunta del Este 16°C (61°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Punta del Este
| Punta del Este | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 11°C (52°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 10°C (50°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 11°C (52°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.